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Commission rules out foul play in Yumn Rasheed fall

But the findings exposed police negligence and political interference.

Artwork: Dosain

Artwork: Dosain

18 Jun, 9:13 AM

Ahmed Naish

Hawwa Yumn Rasheed did not appear to have been pushed from a nine-storey building, a presidential commission has concluded, finding no evidence of foul play but leaving unexplained the exact nature of the fall from a narrow stairwell window that left the 21-year-old gravely injured.
The inquiry commission’s 72-page report was published on Tuesday after it was presented to the president. 
The five-member commission was unable to speak to Yumn, who is medically unfit after undergoing multiple surgeries in Malaysia, according to her family. She was discharged last week but remains bedridden, her brother-in-law told the media. 
Medical reports showing no signs of physical violence or struggle beyond critical injuries from the fall as well as other evidence – including CCTV footage previously made public by police and other information reported in the weeks after the incident – pointed to an accident in an intoxicated state with no other person’s involvement, the commission suggested.
Yumn was found on a warehouse rooftop on the morning of April 18, more than two hours after the fall. Raudh Ahmed Zilal, the 21-year-old who was with her in the staircase of Henveiru Fentenoy, left her without reporting the incident. Despite testing positive for drugs, Raudh – whose brother was a President’s Office undersecretary who also chaired the president’s Youth Advisory Board – was released after questioning.
Police initially refused to make any arrests or to acknowledge Raudh and Yumn’s attendance at a party hosted by the transport minister’s nephews, sparking youth-led protests alleging a coverup to shield who they called “nepo babies” linked to the president’s campaign communications team. 
The police chief disclosed the identities of the eight young people at the party, including Izdhyan Mohamed Maumoon, who was sacked as President’s Office undersecretary for strategic communications. The transport minister’s residence was only searched after public anger erupted with large demonstrations.
Raudh was arrested on April 24, a day after the first protest. He was released on May 26 under prosecution rules for avoiding remand periods that exceed the minimum sentence. He was later charged with failing to assist a person in need, a third-degree offence that carries a prison term of one month and six days. The Prosecutor General’s office declined to press drug abuse charges citing police procedural lapses in taking his urine sample. 
Key takeaways and revelations: 

The terrace door was locked and jammed and no fingerprints were lifted from the railing overlooking the nextdoor warehouse.

Police were negligent in collecting evidence and securing the scene, which was processed before the investigating officer arrived.

Raudh told the commission he could not recall any details from the night after leaving the allegedly drug-fueled party at the apartment of Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen’s nephews.

Raudh initially told the police that Yumnu fell while he was holding her and that Fentenoy was a friend’s house. He later refused to answer any questions after his lawyer arrived. 

Daud Ahmed Zilal, President’s Office undersecretary for digital strategy, lied to the commission about messaging Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan about his brother Raudh’s arrest. According to Ihusan’s testimony, he asked for Raudh’s ID card number and told Daud he would look into it. (Daud was suspended and told to resign from the advisory board following the protests).

Ihusan went to the scene of the incident, took photographs and inspected the area.

Transport Minister Ameen called Police Commissioner Ali Shujau purportedly to say that a court order was unnecessary to search his building.

Both ministers’ conduct was inappropriate but did not interfere with the investigation, the commission concluded.   

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